Research Summary:

At present, our group is pursuing three distinct but related research directions, all broadly related to the field of tomographic image reconstruction. The first direction involves extension of our work in CT image reconstruction to an important clinical problem: developing data processing strategies that allow for reducing the dose in CT scans both for standard studies and for the explicit low-dose studies being considered for screening for lung cancer. The second direction involves a collaboration with investigators at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory to improve image reconstruction algorithms, and thus the quantitative accuracy of reconstructed images, in an emerging modality called x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT). The third direction, in collaboration with James Norris in the chemistry department, involves developing novel molecular imaging agents and image reconstruction strategies for another emerging modality: optoacoustic tomography.